Talking the Trades

I believe a proper education in the trades for a young person will plant in him or her knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the eternal principles of achievement. The fruit is self reliance and happiness. My son Sam has been working with me for a while. He has been learning the painting trade. My duty is to communicate the eternal trade principles. My task isn't so much showing how to hold a paint brush and paint a straight line. It is showing by example the integrity and self discipline proper painting preparation requires.
It is my opinion that the craftsman is guided by his heart and mind. So the primary development is that of the conscience. It is no small thing for a craftsman to be engaged to do work. The craftsman must be able to give a good assessment of the work's scope to the owner. He must make a call of required labor and material applicable to the project. He must negotiate with the owners to answer their call for improvement work. He must be square in efficiency and accuracy to do proper work according to the budget. He must have good tools and equipment and he must know how to use and care for them. The craftsman must have confidence in his ability to meet and overcome any difficulty that may present to him in the course of the work. He cannot start painting a living room and then quit half way through for any reason. It would be better not to start in the first place. These traits are learned through study and experience. Possessing these traits are better than possessing gold. It is said that riches, long life and honor are in the hands of wisdom. ("...therefore get wisdom...")
It is tough but Sam is staying the course through the thick and thin. I admire him for that. With good knowledge of a trade a young person will gain understanding and self reliance. A young person can learn through the trades that he or she can make his or her own life to order through the application of the eternal principles.